G.A.R.D.^® for Flight Attendants
(Gracie Air Rage Defense)

OVERVIEW

The confidence of the flying public in the safety of air travel has been shattered by the attacks of 9/11. Statistics show however, that the need for attention to the very serious matter of Air Rage has been overlooked since long before that fateful day.

• "There are an estimated 4,000 incidents of air rage each year." (Patricia Friend, Association of Flight Attendants International President).
• A survey conducted by London's Guildhall University found "More than a third of airlines have no formal training to prevent and manage air rage, and only two in 10 companies could specify how their policy on dealing with passenger violence was outlined to customers." (airwise.com, 01/28/01)

There has been a great deal of talk about establishing tougher measures to punish those individuals who disrupt the safety of flights through unruly behavior, but it should be the first priority to train flight personnel to deal with the problem on the spot because the consequences of not having this ability could result in tragic consequences.

• "It only takes one incident to create an air disaster. The airlines, the FAA and the Department of Justice have failed to act. And that puts the safety of every single person who boards an airplane at risk." (Patricia Friend, Association of Flight Attendants International President)
• "Certainly they were fighting and uncontrollable, and clearly the calming techniques which we teach our cabin crews didn't work." (David Parsons, Airtours International, February 1, 1999)

INDUSTRY

There are a few methods offered by the airlines for their personnel to use in attempting to subdue disruptive passengers. Some of the most common forms include:

• Primary Restraint Techniques (PRT), a passive holding method.
• Basic flight attendant training that does not include suitable training in air rage situations
• Plastic handcuffs on board planes
• "Yellow Card" warning notices that are handed out to disruptive passengers

Obviously, these methods currently provided by the airlines are not solving the problem because air rage is constantly on the rise. A standard program to effectively deal with this issue must be established throughout the industry since the problem is the same in every airline. It's a common problem. It requires a common solution.

THE G.A.R.D.® SOLUTION

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Unlike many Self-Defense experts that rushed after 9/11 to develop a program that would address the need for safety inside an airplane, the Gracie Academy had G.A.R.D.® (Gracie Air Rage Defense) in place since early 2001.

G.A.R.D.® was developed by Rorion Gracie to increase the safety of flight attendants by reducing their vulnerability while in flight. The training will prepare flight personnel to safeguard the cabin, passengers and crew by increasing their ability to identify potential threats and providing them with preventive measures to protect themselves and the individuals in their care.

G.A.R.D.® incorporates easy to learn techniques into these specific situations, most notably that safety requirements must be met within the confines of a crowded airplane 30,000 feet in the air. G.A.R.D.® will empower flight attendants with non-lethal methods to effectively stop and subdue potentially dangerous individuals before situations escalate.

The teaching methodology of the Gracie Academy is unique in that it addresses not only the physical and technical aspects of the situation, but also instills in the participants confidence that they will be able to execute the moves when required. This is crucial in situations where it is common that a flight attendant will be a woman facing a larger, stronger male passenger. We are certain that after seeing the effectiveness of the techniques we offer, every airline will consider making G.A.R.D.® a mandatory component of their flight attendant basic training. Our objective is to make this lifesaving information available to as many flight attendants as possible, thus ensuring the safety of airline personnel and their passengers.

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that this or any other Self-Defense program will prevent a flight attendant from being attacked or, if attacked, will always enable her/him to subdue the unruly passenger without being harmed. The G.A.R.D.® program does, however, address the most common situations that occur when a flight attendant is involved in a confrontation with an abusive passenger. It also empowers flight attendants with the confidence that they CAN execute the techniques.

BACKGROUND

Rorion Gracie, the world's #1 Self-Defense expert, is the leader of the Gracie Family and has been teaching his family's art of Jiu-Jitsu for over 35 years. He opened the Gracie Academy, a California corporation, in 1990. His family has been involved in martial arts for nearly 80 years, and they are recognized worldwide for their expertise in the field of Self-Defense, as demonstrated by their unmatched success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a mixed martial art event, created by Rorion Gracie.

To ensure the safety of police officers, Rorion Gracie created G.R.A.P.L.E.® (Gracie Resisting Attack Procedures for Law Enforcement), a program that has provided law enforcement professionals with court defensible techniques for handling violent suspects. The result was an overwhelming acceptance from every major government law enforcement agency including US Air Marshal instructors, the FBI, Secret Service as well as military units such as the Navy Seals, Army Rangers, Special Forces, and many other federal, state and local law enforcement organizations. (Please see list our list of Agencies.)

In 1994, Rorion developed Women Empowered™ a program designed to empower women of all ages, regardless of their size or level of physical fitness, to escape a sexual assault and the frightening consequences of such an attack. This unique program is now being considered for implementation at every major university in the United States.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The Gracie Academy is confident that the G.A.R.D.® program will exceed your expectations in the areas of:

Effective Training Techniques

Our teaching methods will increase each participant's ability to grasp and retain key points, skills and knowledge that will help prevent or manage a safety threat.

Increased Confidence

The G.A.R.D.® teaching methodology includes focus on empowering each participant with an increased level of confidence in their ability to resolve potentially life-threatening situations.

Competitive Pricing

The return on investment of the G.A.R.D.® program is unmatched by any other supplier within the industry. In fact, we want to work with your airline to continue to identify opportunities to achieve cost reduction.

Service Capability and Responsiveness

The Gracie Academy will be as flexible as reasonably possible to meet your company's pricing and scheduling requirements and guarantees that sufficient Gracie Academy personnel will be fully prepared and available to provide all training required by your airline once a contract is awarded.

CONTACT & REGISTRATION: 

For National Security reasons, additional information requires our personal attention. Please contact Program Director Spiro Demetriadi by sending E-mail to the Gracie Cabin Crew Self-Defense Department or please call + (888) 494-5345 and press ext.84.

Due to a high volume of inquiries, it may take a week or more to receive a reply.

For more info please click on the links below:

Testimonials

Clients

Awards

Recognition Coins

Accommodations (for those visiting the Gracie Academy)